70 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



the beginnings; to the end of their appearance here during the summer 

 and fall. It is quite different, however, with the "see-catch;" we 

 know how and where it spends two or three months, because we find 

 it on the grounds at all times, day or night, during that period. 



Sports AND pastimes op the young "bachelors." — A small 

 flock of the young seals, 1 to 3 years old generally, will often stray 

 from these hauling-ground margins, uj) and beyond, over the fresh 

 mosses and grasses, and there sport and play one with another just 

 as little puppy dogs do; and when weary of this gamboling a general 

 disposition to sleep is suddenly manifested, and they stretch them- 

 selves out and curl up in all the liositions and all the postures that 

 their flexible spines and ball-and-socket joints will permit. They 

 seem to revel in the unwonted vegetation, and to be delighted with 

 their own efforts in rolling down and crushing the tall stalks of the 

 grasses and umbelliferous x)lants; one will lie upon its back, hold up 

 its hind flippers, and lazily wave them about, while it scratches, or 

 rather rubs, its ribs with the fore hands alternately, the ej^es being 

 tightly closed during the whole performance; the sensation is evi- 

 dently so luxurious that it does not wish to have any side issue draw 

 off its blissful self -attention. Another, curled up like a cat on a rug, 

 draws its breath, as indicated by the heaving of its flanks, quickly 

 but regularly, as though in heavy sleep; another will lie flat upon its 

 stomach, its'hind flippers covered and concealed, while it tightly folds 

 its fore feet back against its sides, just as a fish carries its ijectoral 

 fins — and so on to no end of variety, according to the ground and the 

 fancy of the animals. 



These "bachelor" seals are, I am sure, without exception, the most 

 restless animals in the whole brute creation which can boast of a high 

 organization. They frolic and lope about over the grounds for hours, 

 without a moment's cessation, and their sleep, after this, is exceed- 

 ingly short, and it is ever accompanied with nervous twitchings and 

 uneas}^ muscular movements ; they seem to be f airlj^ brimful and over- 

 running with spontaneity — to be surcharged with fervid, electric life. 



Another marked feature which I have observed among the multi- 

 tudes of " holluschickie " which have come under my personal obser- 

 vation and auditorj', and one yerj characteristic of this class, is that 

 nothing like ill humor appears in all of their playing together. They 

 never growl or bite, or show even the slightest angry feeling, but are 

 invariably as happy, one with another, as can be imagined. This is a 

 very singular trait. They lose it, however, with astonishing rapidity, 

 when their ambition and strength develops and carries them, in due 

 course of time, to the rookery. (See note, 30, N.) 



The pups and j^earlings have an especial fondness for sporting on 

 the rocks which are just at the water's level and awash, so as to be 

 covered and uncovered as the surf rolls in. On the bare summit of 

 these wave-worn spots they will struggle and clamber in groups of a 

 dozen or two at a time throughout the whole day in endeavoring to 

 push off that one of their number which has just been fortunate enough 

 to secure a landing. The successor has, however, but a brief moment 

 of exultation in victory, for the next roller that comes booming in, 

 together with the pressure by its friends, turns the table, and the 

 game is repeated, with another seal on top. Sometimes, as well as I 

 could see, the same squad of "holluschickie" played for a whole day 

 and night, without a moment's cessation, around such a rock as this, 

 off Nail Speel rookery; but in this observation I may be mistaken, 

 because the seals can not be told apart. 



Seals among the breakers. — The graceful unconcern with which 



